Ten percent of ASPA's membership must cast their ballot for this year's election vote to be valid. If you have not yet submitted your ballot, please do so by Monday, Nov. 28.

Did you know less than 15 percent of ASPA's membership regularly votes in its annual election process? That is less than the percentage of membership who typically read each edition of The Bridge.

If you are reading this, are an ASPA member and have not yet cast your ballot, do so today and be a responsible participant in ASPA governance.

You will need your login information; contact us if you have forgotten your username or password so we can make sure you can access the ballot properly. All ballots are secure and are submitted anonymously. If you would prefer to receive a paper ballot, contact us and we will be happy to send you one.

Need to know who is running for office? Click here to see the full slate of nominees and read their biographies and candidate statements.

We look forward to robust participation in this year's election process—but we must have your vote by Nov. 28, 2016. Cast your ballot today!

On Thursday, Nov. 17, ASPA executive director, William P. Shields, Jr., and long-time member L. Frances Liddell were inducted into the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA) as members of its 2016 class of Fellows.

Academy Fellows possess an unmatched wealth of expertise and serve as the cornerstone of the organization. They contribute valuable insight and experience to the oversight of Academy projects and provide general guidance of the organization. Fellows are also the Academy's primary resource for addressing emerging issues and contributing to the intellectual and popular discourse on government through its Standing Panels.

Bill and Frances joined 48 peer administrators and thought leaders as part of this year's class, which was elected by the entire NAPA membership after a rigorous nomination process. NAPA currently is comprised of more than 800 Fellows.

Fellows have a deep understanding of financial management, human resources, technology and administrative functions at all levels of government and direct most of Academy's studies. With their induction, Bill and Frances join an elite group of individuals in their service to government.

ASPA's professional development webinars are ongoing throughout the year. Averaging 85 attendees per webinar and free to ASPA members, these e-learning opportunities provide you with valuable insights and information at your fingertips. Here's a quick look at upcoming opportunities. Make sure you register today for sessions that interest you and visit our website to review further details about all upcoming webinars, BookTalks and Student Webinars.

Smart cities are technologically advanced and use data collected throughout the city to improve public services. The age of Big Data is upon us; where are cities looking for their future? We will speak with city officials in LA, Chicago and Kansas City to see what is on their radar.

When Denver Mayor Michael Hancock took office in 2011 he inherited an $80 million budget shortfall and a government workforce that had been through multiple rounds of cuts and furloughs. He needed a way to drive greater efficiencies, cost savings and improved performance—and he had to do it in-house on a shoe-string budget. Enter Peak Academy, the coaching and innovation program he created to teach front line city employees how to tackle small problems and deliver big results. Peak Performance is a book that will help public sector leaders replicate the Peak model.

USAJobs.com, the primary vehicle through which individuals apply for federal jobs, is a confusing website. Only those with the inside track can get through the application process and successfully gain an interview on the other side. Janice Lachance will de-mystify this tool!

During this turbulent period of in our country, when the goals and intentions of public servants are being questioned and put to the test, it is important to remind ourselves of the noble values and principles that ground ASPA members. The challenges that may lie ahead will require us to adapt to changing expectations while maintaining the credibility of our profession. With this in mind, the members of the ASPA Ethics Committee encourage you to join them in reaffirming your commitment to uphold the ethical principles and standards in the ASPA Code of Ethics. We commit ourselves to uphold the following principles:

Advance the Public Interest. Promote the interests of the public and put service to the public above service to oneself.

Uphold the Constitution and the Law. Respect and support government constitutions and laws, while seeking to improve laws and policies to promote the public good.

Promote democratic participation. Inform the public and encourage active engagement in governance. Be open, transparent and responsive, and respect and assist all persons in their dealings with public organizations.

Strengthen social equity. Treat all persons with fairness, justice and equality and respect individual differences, rights and freedoms. Promote affirmative action and other initiatives to reduce unfairness, injustice and inequality in society.

Fully Inform and Advise. Provide accurate, honest, comprehensive and timely information and advice to elected and appointed officials and governing board members and to staff members in your organization.

Demonstrate personal integrity. Adhere to the highest standards of conduct to inspire public confidence and trust in public service.

Promote Ethical Organizations. Strive to attain the highest standards of ethics, stewardship and public service in organizations that serve the public.

Advance Professional Excellence. Strengthen personal capabilities to act competently and ethically and encourage the professional development of others.

The Ethics Committee has assembled a draft of a workbook and assessment guide to help ASPA members guidance on the meaning and application of the Code along with questions to guide a self-assessment of ethical commitments and challenges faced in ones position. The guide can be found on the ASPA website. Contact us with any questions.

Gov. L. Douglas Wilder became the first African-American to be elected governor in the U.S., leading the Commonwealth of Virginia from 1990 to 1994.

This year he will serve as the Richardson Lecturer during the 2017 Annual Conference, March 17-21 in Atlanta. He has a vast public service career and is known for many significant milestones. Make sure you are in the audience at this year's conference to hear what he has to share. The Richardson Lecture will take place on Sunday, March 19, at 3:30 p.m.

As the Commonwealth's 66th governor, he was commended for his sound fiscal management and balancing the state budget during difficult economic times. Financial World magazine ranked Virginia as the best managed state in the U.S. for two consecutive years under his administration. Prior to his time as governor, he served as lieutenant governor from 1986 to 1990 and as state senator from 1969-1985, chairing committees on Transportation; Rehabilitation and Social Services; Privileges and Elections; the Virginia Advisory Legislative Council; and the Senate Steering Committee, which appoints committee members.

Other legislative achievements include providing state health care coverage for sickle-cell anemia patients, toughening penalties for capital murderers and prison escapees and expanding low and moderate income housing. For eight years, he persisted in sponsoring legislation that eventually led to establishing a state holiday honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., making Virginia the first state in the nation to have a legislative holiday for Dr. King.

As you prepare for some end-of-year down time, put aside some time to review the ASPA webinar archives. Containing webinars and BookTalks dating back to 2014 and more than 100 hours of content, this is a robust digital library that can provide you with critical insights and information you need to add to your expertise. Just some of the topics featured include:

Tactics for Successful Cross-Sector Collaborations(Jan. 27, 2016)

Equity in Public Administration: The Case of Public Transit(Feb. 10, 2016)

The Section on Personnel Administration and Labor Relations (SPALR) is seeking nominations for three awards to be presented during the SPALR business meeting at the 2017 ASPA Annual Conference in Atlanta, March 17-21, 2017. Nominators must be current SPALR members. Candidates who are not SPALR members can be nominated but must join SPALR if awarded. The deadline for all awards is Jan. 16, 2017. Click here for more information.

The Section on International and Comparative Administration (SICA) is accepting nominations for its 2017 David Gould Scholarship Program. The program offers graduate students in the fields of public administration, public policy and/or international development financial support to attend ASPA's Annual Conference. Each year at least two students receive a nominal stipend and a free registration for the SICA workshop, which takes place at the conference. The deadline for all nominations is Jan. 15, 2017. Click here for more information.

The Section on Ethics and Integrity of Governance (SEIGov) is holding its annual elections. Six elected positions need to be filled. Members who wish to nominate Section members for these offices are highly encouraged to do so (after securing the consent of the nominee). In addition, any members who are interested in standing for election to or being appointed to a particular office may nominate themselves. All nominations must be made by Dec. 1, 2016. Click here for more information.

The Academy of Management's Public and Nonprofit Division is requesting nominations for its 2017 Best Book Award. Members of the Public and Nonprofit Division pay special attention to how distinctive qualities of the public and nonprofit sectors influence management and organizational processes. Books nominated for the Award should significantly contribute to modern management theory and/or practice and address issues within the Public and Nonprofit Division's domain of interest. Nominations are due March 5, 2017. Click here for more information.

The George Washington University has announced its 68th Annual Arthur S. Flemming Awards Program honoring outstanding men and women in the federal government in 2016. The Flemming Award was created to single out and celebrate the achievements of unique federal employees, usually in the early part of their careers, who went beyond what was expected to make a major impact in society. Nominations must be received by the George Washington University by Jan. 31, 2017. Click here for more information.

Public Administration and the DisciplinesRosemary O'Leary, EditorRelational Leadership, Storytelling and Narratives: Practices of Local Government Chief ExecutivesKevin Orr (University of St. Andrews, United Kingdom) and Mike Bennett (Public Intelligence, United Kingdom) examine the storytelling and narrative practices of an elite group of public administrators in the United Kingdom: local government chief executives. They do so through the lens of relationality, exploring the collective dimensions of leadership. The focus on leadership and stories embraces the narrative turn in public administration scholarship. It responds to calls for research examining the distinctive settings of everyday leadership action. The contribution to theory is a qualitative understanding of the relational ways in which stories and narratives are used in the practices of public administration leaders. The article analyzes four ways in which such leadership is accomplished: inviting an emotional connection and commitment to public service, making sense of organizational realities, provoking reflections on practices and assumptions, and managing relations with politicians. The authors offer an appreciation of how relational leadership influence can be generated by expressive narratives and storytelling rather than stemming from bureaucratic authority. Link to PAR Early View

Evidence in Public AdministrationKimberley R. Isett, Brian W. Head, and Gary VanLandingham, EditorsWater Policy in a Time of Climate Change: Coping with ComplexityRob M. Skinner (Monash University, Australia) discusses how the unpredictable impacts of climate change, combined with significant social and economic changes, mean that policy analysis is becoming inordinately more complex. Coping with this increasing complexity while engaging with a full range of stakeholders and the community requires a new approach to leadership and governance. Water planners (and others involved in the planning processes) need new skills in active listening and constructive cultural behavior, and all agencies need to recognize that thinking and acting only in the interests of their own silo of responsibilities will inevitably produce suboptimal outcomes. Leadership focused on constructive behavior that recognizes and rewards generosity of spirit across disciplines and between organizations is the foundation of this new approach. Link to PAR Early View

Research SynthesisMichael McGuire, Editor25 Years of Transparency Research: Evidence and Future DirectionsMaria Cucciniello (Bocconi University, Italy), Gregory A. Porumbescu (Northern Illinois University) and Stephan Grimmelikhuijsen (Utrecht School of Governance, The Netherlands) synthesize the cross-disciplinary literature on government transparency. They systematically review research addressing the topic of government transparency published between 1990 and 2015. The review uses 187 studies to address three questions: (1) What forms of transparency has the literature identified? (2) What outcomes does the literature attribute to transparency? and (3) How successful is transparency in achieving those goals? In addressing these questions, the authors review six interrelated types of transparency and nine governance- and citizen-related outcomes of transparency. Based on the findings of the analysis, the authors outline an agenda for future research on government transparency and its effects that calls for more systematically investigating the ways in which contextual conditions shape transparency outcomes, replicating studies with varying methodologies, investigating transparency in neglected countries, and paying greater attention to understudied claims of transparency such as improved decision making and management. Link to PAR Early View

Developing Practice-Oriented Theory on Collaboration: A Paradox Lens
Collaboration is present throughout public administration as a means to address social issues that sit in the interorganizational domain. Yet research carried out over the last three decades has concluded that collaborations are complex, slow to produce outputs, and by no means guaranteed to deliver synergies and advantage. Siv Vangen (Open University Business School, United Kingdom) explores whether a “paradox lens” can aid the development of practice-oriented theory to help those who govern, lead, and manage collaborations in practice. She draws on a long-standing research program on collaboration and a synthesis of relevant literature on paradox and collaboration. The article develops five propositions on the application of a paradox lens that explicitly recognizes the context of collaboration as inherently paradoxical; acknowledges the limitations of mainstream theory in capturing adequately the complex nature of and tensions embedded in collaborative contexts; and uses the principles of paradox to develop practice-oriented theory on governing, leading, and managing collaborations. Link to PAR Early View

Research ArticlesForcible Stops: Police and Citizens Speak Out
A recent federal district court decision found that the New York City Police Department engaged in unconstitutional policing. Officers stopped millions of minority young men over the span of several years. Most of those stopped were innocent of any wrongdoing. John A. Eterno, Christine S. Barrow (Molloy College) and Eli B. Silverman (City University of New York) use qualitative and quantitative research methods to investigate these inequities, examining the views of both the police and those who were stopped. They find that pressure on officers emanating from headquarters was responsible for much of the illegal behavior by lower-level officers. Additionally, youth in minority neighborhoods felt mistreated by the police; this led to distrust in the police. The authors suggest solutions to ameliorate this painful episode in police practice. The article concludes with specific recommendations such as reducing management pressure on officers and police developing community partnerships. Link to PAR Early View

Developing and Testing an Integrative Framework for Open Government Adoption in Local Governments
Open government is an important innovation to foster trustworthy and inclusive governments. Stephan G. Grimmelikhuijsen (Utrecht University, The Netherlands) and Mary K. Feeney (Arizona State University) develop and test an integrative theoretical framework drawing from theories on policy diffusion and innovation adoption. Based on this, they investigate how structural, cultural, and environmental variables explain three dimensions of open government: accessibility, transparency, and participation. The framework is tested by combining 2014 survey data and observational data from 500 local U.S. government websites. Organizational structure, including technological and organizational capacity, is a determinant shared by all dimensions of open government. Furthermore, accessibility is affected by a mixture of an innovative and participative culture and external pressures. A flexible and innovative culture positively relates to higher levels of transparency, whereas capacity is a strong predictor of adopting participatory features. The main conclusion is that there is no one-size-fits-all solution to fostering the three dimensions of open government, as each dimension is subject to a unique combination of determinants. Link to PAR Early View

Looking for interesting commentary on news events and contemporary issues? Check out the ASPA Blog, which features a collection of authors writing on everyday life from the eyes of a public manager, student or young professional.

Find your next career opportunity at publicservicecareers.org. This online job board is the perfect resource for making a career change or landing your first job in the public service. It lists dozens of positions in academia, government and the nonprofit sector. Below are just a few current listings.